In most small congregations, the pastor is the primary caregiver. Congregations expect it, and seminaries train leaders for it. But it’s also what stifles the growth potential of almost every church. Think about it: when the pastor has to visit every sick person, do every wedding and funeral and make regular house calls, attend every meeting, and lead every Bible study or group, he or she becomes incapable of doing almost anything else. Message preparation falls to the side, and providing organizational leadership for the future is almost out of the question.
